In all my years in Malta, I have only ever dated one Maltese woman and the results were catastrophic. I took her to see a play called The Pillowman by English/Irish playwright Martin McDonagh. It is a particularly macabre, dark black comedy about torture and child molestation and is the perfect killer to a first date. Add to that the fact that at after-performance drinkies (of blood-red wine) I recounted my mother's death from cancer and by the evening's end I had firmly nailed down the lid on the coffin of any second date. If by any chance she should read this and is willing to give me a second chance then I can be contacted on 9985 6594.
So it was with more than a little apprehension that I visited St James at the beginning of the month (on another first date) to see the film In Bruges, written and directed by none-other that Mr Martin McDonagh. This is an almost Fellini - like film featuring the dark side of life, gangsters, petty criminals, midgets - or dwarfs as they apparently prefer to be called - and things happening on so many levels it is fascinating. With a main cast of Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes this is a story of two gangsters who are sent to Bruges to cool their heels after a botched job and their interaction while in the city. But things take a decidedly menacing turn, when big-boss (Fiennes) turns up to sort things out by himself. With some seriously funny moments, the menace is never far away and we know it will all turn out badly in the end. A wonderful piece of cinema and now out on DVD. I recommend it.
That date couldn't have turned out sooo bad because the following week, and with the same lady in tow, I found myself in Vittoriosa for the Festival Mediterranju tal- Letteratura ta' Malta. Basically an international poetry-reading evening, with some poems set to music. The highlight of this event was the fact that the poets... from Malta, Iceland, Morocco, Palestine and Slovenia... had translated each other's works into their own languages and discussed with us the difficulties encountered. Organised by Inizjamed the only sad thing was the turnout... basically just the artists, themselves and dedicated spouses. This needs to be better advertised and I will definitely go again next year.
Last but by no means least... Miles to Go, a showcase for Erica Ann Muscat at St James Cavalier and directed by Wesley Ellul (I think). This young lady had the support of Malta's finest in the various shapes and forms of Polly March, Denise Mulholland, Manuel Cauchi and Paul Portelli and some of her contemporaries to add to the evening. As for Erica herself... embarking on a course of study at the Central School of Speech and Drama... the title may be quite prophetic. She chose safe songs which suited her voice, which is quite lovely. She rushed through the Shakespeare and the preamble was recited and not spontaneous enough... she was talking to friends after all. But in Pinter's Request Stop she excelled and was quite menacing. If I had been in the bus queue I would have been out of there too. But she has good and trusted sponsors and with work. We can only wish her well.
The rest of the month, I spent sweating.
So it was with more than a little apprehension that I visited St James at the beginning of the month (on another first date) to see the film In Bruges, written and directed by none-other that Mr Martin McDonagh. This is an almost Fellini - like film featuring the dark side of life, gangsters, petty criminals, midgets - or dwarfs as they apparently prefer to be called - and things happening on so many levels it is fascinating. With a main cast of Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes this is a story of two gangsters who are sent to Bruges to cool their heels after a botched job and their interaction while in the city. But things take a decidedly menacing turn, when big-boss (Fiennes) turns up to sort things out by himself. With some seriously funny moments, the menace is never far away and we know it will all turn out badly in the end. A wonderful piece of cinema and now out on DVD. I recommend it.
That date couldn't have turned out sooo bad because the following week, and with the same lady in tow, I found myself in Vittoriosa for the Festival Mediterranju tal- Letteratura ta' Malta. Basically an international poetry-reading evening, with some poems set to music. The highlight of this event was the fact that the poets... from Malta, Iceland, Morocco, Palestine and Slovenia... had translated each other's works into their own languages and discussed with us the difficulties encountered. Organised by Inizjamed the only sad thing was the turnout... basically just the artists, themselves and dedicated spouses. This needs to be better advertised and I will definitely go again next year.
Last but by no means least... Miles to Go, a showcase for Erica Ann Muscat at St James Cavalier and directed by Wesley Ellul (I think). This young lady had the support of Malta's finest in the various shapes and forms of Polly March, Denise Mulholland, Manuel Cauchi and Paul Portelli and some of her contemporaries to add to the evening. As for Erica herself... embarking on a course of study at the Central School of Speech and Drama... the title may be quite prophetic. She chose safe songs which suited her voice, which is quite lovely. She rushed through the Shakespeare and the preamble was recited and not spontaneous enough... she was talking to friends after all. But in Pinter's Request Stop she excelled and was quite menacing. If I had been in the bus queue I would have been out of there too. But she has good and trusted sponsors and with work. We can only wish her well.
The rest of the month, I spent sweating.